Electron discharge tube



Jan. 8, 1935. 'r. w. SUKUMLYN 1,987,136

ELECTRON DISCHARGE TUBE Filed Feb. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

fire): for 135 45 Thomas MSukUm/yn A ffarn av Jan. 8, 1935. 'r. w. SUKUMLYN 1,987,136

I ELECTRON DISCHARGE TUBE Filed Feb. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I mamas MSukt/m/yn Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRON mscmmoa TUBE Thomas Sukumlyn, Los Angelcs, Calif. Application February 21, 1931, Serial No. 517,425

7 Claims. (01. 250-275) This invention relates to electronic control devices, and more particularly to an electron discharge device.

It is one of the objects of my invention to arrange the control electrode and the anode in such a way that a larger variation in electron fiow can be produced than in the usual form of electronic emission device just described. I am enabled to accomplish this result by providing electron streams, which are transversely shiftable by the input impulses that influence the control electrode structure. These electron streams are moved with the frequency of the impulses and form in combination an intense stream capable of producing maximum amplification.

It is another object of my invention to use such an electron emission device either as an amplifier or rectifier or even as an oscillator, as by the addition of other electrode structures or by supplementing the structures.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of my invention. For this purpose companying and forming part of the present specification. I shall now proceed to describe these forms in detail, which illustrate the general principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagram of an amplifier system embodying my invention; and 2 Figs. 2, 3, and 4 show modifications thereof.

In Fig. 1, the circle 11 is intended to represent a sealed vessel of any desired form, arranged to accommodate the various electrodes. The ves- 40 sel 11 is usually evacuated, but under certain circumstances it may be desirable to include therein an inactive gas at low pressure. Inclosed in the vessel is a cathode or electron emitting electrode 12, shown in this instance as comprising a filament heated by the passage of an electric current from a source 13.

The electrons from cathode 12 are to be received on an anode structure which surrounds the cathode. This structure includes a series of 50 wide rings 14, 15, 16, 1'1, 18, 19, that are coaxial,

and spaced so that they present as uniform a distance from the cathode 12 as possible. These rings or hands have their edges quite closely spaced. They each are maintained at a potential positive with respect to the cathode. In the pres- I have shown a few forms in the drawings ac-.

ent instance these rings or bands form a pair of sets, the bands of each set alternating in position with the bands of the other set.

Thus in the form of Fig. 1, bands 14, 16, and 18 are electrically connected together as by a 6 conductor 20; and bands 15, 17, 19 are similarly connected together by a conductor 21. These two sets 14-16-18 and 15-17-19 form two parallel paths for the output current, the entire output circuit being traceable as follows: 1 from cathode 12, a battery 22, the purpose of which will be later described, aplate or anode battery 23, connection 24, whencethe circuit divides; one portion including an'upper half 25 of a coil, conductor 21, rings or hands 15, 1'7, 15 and 19, the space of tube 11, back to cathode 12; the other portion including lower half 26 of a coil, conductor 20, rings or bands 14, 16, and 18, the space of tube 11, back to cathode 12.

. The incoming impulses are arranged to affect 20 the path of the electrons to the ringsin such a way that first one set 14-16-18 is active, and then the other set 15-17-19, to receive the electrons. In this way, the lower and upper halves 26, 25 of the coil 25-26 are alternately 25 active, to transfer energy to a secondary coil 27 connecting to an output circuit 28, 29, leading to a further amplifier stage or to any other form of translating device.

In order to switch the electron streams in the 30 manner stated, a control electrode structure is utilized, which defines paths intermediate of each pair of adjacent rings. For example, fiat elements 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 can be used, the edges of each being respectively opposed to 86 the central portion of the respective band or ring.

It is apparent that, when the structure 30-31- 32-33-3435 is inactive, the electrons flow between them and are evenly divided between the two sets 14-16-18 and 15-17-19. Thus, for 40 instance, in the space defined between elements 30 and 31, the electrons flow radially, some being received on ring 14 and some on ring 15, which, however, are in different parallel circuits. Thus, for this condition, both halves 25, 26 carry a 5 steady and equal current. Furthermore, coil halves 25, 26 are for this condition inductively opposed, so that the magnetic effect is neutralized, and there is no induced electromotive force in coil 2'7.

In other words, just as much electrons are received on set 14-16-18 as on set 15-1'7-19, leaving the circuits balanced and the outgoing lines 28-29 inactive.

Now, however, if alternate elements such as 32,-"34 are made negative and the sic positive, it la -apparent um 15, 1'1, 19,,oppoments 31, 33, 35 positive, the electron streams will no longer divide equally, because the'negative element will repel the electrons, while positive ones will attract them, causing the electron stream to incline away irom one band and toward the other. Thus with-element 30 negative and element 31 positive, substantially all the electrons in the path between these elements will reach ring 15, and will avoid ring 14. -With,

all elements 30 to 35 alternately negative and larities change rapidly, in accordance with the incoming impulses, the currents in coil sections 25, 26 will vary in accordance with thesechanges and willinduce an amplified E. M. l". in coil 27.

In order to vary the polarities oi the two sets of control elements 30-32-34 and 31-33-35 in accordance with the signaling impulses, use can be made 01' incoming lines 36, 37, including a primary coil 3 8. A secondary coil 39 has its extremities connected respectively by conductors 46 and 41 to the elements 30,32, 34 and to the elements 31, 33, 35. Thusas the E. M. 1''. across coil 39 changes in accordance'with the signaling impulses, the E. M. l". oi the sets 30-32-34 and 31-33-35 changes, producing the eil'ects noted. The input circuit between the cathode l2 and the control electrode structure is elec-' trically connected so that-there will be a definite potential diilerence relation between these input electrodes at all times. This can be accomplished by connecting lead 40 to one terminal of the battery 22 which may serve to bias the control electrode structure, either positively or negatively, as desired.

The form just described is adapted for ampli ilcation, both halt waves of each impulse of the signal. being repeated in the outgoing lines. It

is possible to arrange matters in such a way as to transmit only alternate half waves the impulses, as in the form of Fig. 2, thereby producing a rectifying or detector action.

In this figure, vessel 42 includes the same electrode structures 12, 14-16-18, -17-19, 30- 32-34, and 31-33-35, arranged in substantially the same way as in Fig. 1. The outgoing lines 28, 29 connect to a secondary 27 coupled to a coil 43, the extremities of which are connected respectively to sets of bands 12-16-18 and 15-17-19. The sets of control elements 30- 32-34 and 31-33-35 are similarly connected to opposite sides of coil39 coupled to an input coil 44. In this case-however, there is another input coil 45 influencing a grid control electrode 46 interposed between cathode 12 and elements 30 to 35. This input coil 45 induces an E. M. l". in coil 4'1 which is in a circuit connecting the cathode 12 and the electrode 46. This circuit in? cludes biasing battery 48. Thus grid 46 acts alternately to delete hall cycles oi the impulses when it swings negative, so that electrons progress from cathode 12 only when the lower terminal of coil 47 is positive.

When the grid 46 is negative, the connections are so arranged that anode set 14, 16, 18 is active, and whatever flow oi-electrons there may be to thesebands does not pass through coil 43, but the circuit can be traced as toliows:

bands 15, 1, this halt-cycle, the output current panes coil-43, causing an s. u. .r. tobe inducedm vimcnuis'me usedlnthesamekindotacirc'ultas,

3 I illustrate a term be ventional three-electrode device, but; in the control electrode structure, instead of grid 'il'made up of a list spaced members51, 52, 53, 54, 55, or anode can be a cylinder control electrode structure. includes secondary 58 oi oil56isinthecircuitconwith electrode structure 51 circuit includes anode 57, 60, plate battery 61, and cathode 12. The tgoing circuit agiig -g the action issimilar to that a grid for a control ectrode: but here thiscontrol electrode is simhas a much more pronounced actionthanthegrldtype. e

Another modification is illustrated in Fig. 4;; in this a. the vessel .63 incloses the cathode ments 65,66, 67 or ilat form spaced apart and between cathode l2 and'structure 65, 66. 67.

A' supplementary electrode structureisprovided, having elements 69', 70, 71 similar to ele-. ments 65, 66, 67, but alternating therewith and ext'endlm beyond them. These-elements 69,. 76, 71 are maintained positive with respect .to cathode 12, as by battery 72. Accordingly. when elements 65, 66, 67 are positive, the electrons pass through the spaces formed between elements 69, 70, 71, and onto plate 64, and through coil 73. However, when elements 65, 66, 67 are negative, the electrons are deilected and are captured on elements 69, 76, 71 and the output coil 73 is by-pased. This represents the inactive period of the cycle.

I claim: f.

1. An electric discharge tube, comprising a cathode structure, an anode structure. said anode structure including a series of two. sets of spaced elements opposite the cathode structure, and

. wlsen'srldu I 19 are positive, and for;

includes coil 62 coupled to coil ,connectedtotheinputcoil68,whichisincircuit means for electrostatically controlling the pas-,

sage of electrons to allot the elements of each set, alternately, each set having elements alternating with the elements otthe other set, said controlling means including a series of elements deilning passageways tor the electrons to the anode elements, each of said overlapping a pair of adjacent anode elements.

'2. The combination as set forth. in claim 1, in which the elements forming the control electrode structure are mounted in a pair of control sets, the elements oi one control set alternating with those of thevother control set, and the elements of each control set being electrically connected together.

3. An electric discharge tube, comprising a cathode structure, an anode structure, said anode structureincludingapairoiseriesotspaced series of said members, each series having members alternating with the members of the other cally connected together.

4. An electric discharge tube, comprising: a cathode structure, an anode structure, said anode structure including two sets of spaced elements opposite the cathode structure, means for controlling the passage of electrons to all the elements of each set alternately from one set to the other set, each set having elements alternating with the elements of the other set, said control- -1ing means including a series of elements defining passageways for the electrons to the anode elements, each of said passageways overlapping a pair of adjacent anode elements, and another controlling means interposed between the oathode structure and the first series of controlling means, said other controlling means being in coupled relation to said first controlling means, and adapted materially to reduce the electron flow when one set of anode elements receives the electron fiow.

5. An electric discharge tube, comprising: a cathode structure, an anode structure, and a control electrode structure between the anode and cathode structures, said control electrode structure comprising a series of disk elements disposed one over the other and defining passageways between the cathode and anode structures by their opposed suri'aces, said elements being alternately electrically connected together to form two sets 01 elements, alternate elements being mounted to extend in an overlapping manner with the adjacent elements, one set of alternate elements being adapted to receive the electron flow when the other set is negative and defiects the electron fiow.

6. The combination defined in claim 4 in which the series of elements of the first controlling means are alternately electrically connected together to form two sets of elements.

7. An electric discharge tube comprising, a cathode structure, an anode structure, said anode structure including a series of spaced ring-like members surrounding the cathode structure, and means for electrostatically controlling the passage of electrons alternately to two sets of said members, each set having members alternating with the members of the other set, the members of each set being electrically connected together, said controlling means including a series of elements defining passageways for the electrons to the anode members, each of said passageways overlapping a pair of adjacent anode members.

THOMAS W. SUKUMLYN. 

